Into It with Sam Sanders
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I thoughtwe killed the song of summer years ago.
Reanna Cruz: I dont necessarily think its that easy, Sam.
Those songs used to be a cultural moment that everybody rallied behind.
Get Lucky was the song of summerthe year it came out.
But now the way we listen to music is decentralized.
TikTokbrings us a million different songsin 15-second clips every other week.
CH: Reanna is right, but the song of summer is definitelyBreak My Soul by Beyonce.
Am I wrong to say that?
Just on-the-nose references to past music.
Lizzo says, been feeling down and under pressure.
Im way too fine to be this stressed.
(Like Under Pressure by David Bowie and Queen, of course.)
Its got good harmonies.
When I first heard it, I hated it.
I said, immediately, that the Lizzo song Juice is a better version of this song.
It sounds like About Damn Time wascooked up in a labto be a No.
And even if this is super-produced, it does it for me.
RC: I dont know.
I feel like its a grower for sure.
But its grown on me over time.
Theres a renewed interest in older music.
CH:Kate Bush.
And that song might be older than you.RC: Oh, absolutely.
But Reannas the only person in this chat room with a Kate Bush tattoo right now.
RC: This is true.
Tell me about all of this.RC: Im a Kate Bush stan.
I am currently sitting under a vintageHounds of Loveposter.
Running Up That Hill is not the song of summer because Im a Kate Bush die-hard.
Im saying that because I feel like its true and accurate.
And I dont watchStranger Things, so I was just like, Oh cool.
All of this renewed interest in Kate Bush.
Thats so funny to me.
But Ive actively been hearing it everywhere.
Guess Im going to the wrong gay clubs.RC: Ive been hearing it everywhere.
I think Kate Bush has been with us for the last many years and we just didnt know it.
And now shes fully arrived again.
I like that Kate Bush plot more than I likethe actual plot ofStranger Things.RC: Me too.
To see it happen with Kate Bushs song as well Im constantly here for this.
I cant wait for the kids to discover Rush.RC: hey.
CH: Sam, youre going to have to come back onSwitched On Popfor a dedicated episode about Rush.
But weve alluded to a third contender, Beyonces Break My Soul.
Fight me.Its full of energy, but it feels very repetitive and doesnt getas strange as the rest ofRenaissancedoes.
When I think of lead singles from Beyonce albums, this is not top-five for me.CH: Yeah.
Im slowly backing away likeHomer Simpson into the bush.
The Kate Bush.RC: The Kate Bush.
Im going to have to exit the loop on Beyonce so that I dont get too much hate mail.
I just think its a strange first showcase for an album that is so rich.
That said, you all know I love Beyonce.
So dont come at me.RC: Sam, I get it though.
I thinkRenaissancefocuses its attention on being analbumrather than a collection of songs.
I think it functions better in the context of an album.
Similarly, I really enjoy the Bad Bunny record and would call italbumof summer.
Whats it called?RC:Un Verano Sin Ti.
You could hear it on the beach.
You could hear it on a hot day out of speakers.
That intersection is the song of summer, and thats what I find in Bad Bunny.
Ive been listening to it everywhere.
I think theyre very similar.
One, two, three, four, five.
Theres a lot of songs that are crushing it on that album.
RC: Oh, yeah.
An album can take up the cultural moment in a way that a single song cant necessarily do anymore.
Before we do a little informal vote, are there any other contenders that we should consider?
It is this amazing throwback R&B song that Im really loving.
I would put that in the mix, because thats a huge global hit.
I would say thatHarry Stylesis probably pretty sad that were not talking about As It Was.
Oh, As It Was was actually good.CH: Its a great song.
Is it the summer vibe that youre feeling?
So lets call him a contender for As It Was.
Honestly, maybe its just the little Puerto Rican in me, but I have to.
It really embodies the summer for me.
Im going to begrudgingly give it to Lizzo for About Damn Time.
She is making music that feels pretty ephemeral right now.
It is very girlboss, Kidz Bop energy, but it works.CH: Look what we did.
Weve determined that there is no song of summer.
We all contain multitudes.
We all contain multitudes.
Ive been thinking about how the moment when we couldve diagnosed anactualsong of summer is over.
Weve lost a monoculture.
So if the era of the song of summer is moving further behind us, what takes its place?
Should of summer just be retired?CH: Best algorithmic playlist of summer sounds about right.
This interview excerpt has been edited and condensed for clarity.
